I presume that someone asked him why he played _______ instead of _______, and he said, “The material is immaterial,” which suggests that one can be just as creative improvising on the simple as the complex, the familiar as well as the innovative.

The second is from another jazz philosopher, Eddie Condon, who said, “The only question about music is this: does it come in the ear like broken glass or like honey?”

Both Lips and Eddie approve, I am sure, of the music played every Sunday (8-11 PM) by the roving adventurers known as The EarRegulars at The Ear Inn (326 Spring Street, Soho, New York).

And here are a half-dozen samples, organic, locally sourced, and especially free-ranging, from the night of March 10, 2013, when the heroic participants were Matt Munisteri, guitar; Neal Miner, string bass; Dion Tucker, trombone; Scott Robinson, tenor saxophone and jazzophone.

If you flinch because “all the tunes are old,” just remember what Lips said. And enjoy the honeyed bliss of the sweet and hot music.

ROYAL GARDEN BLUES:

BABY, WON’T YOU PLEASE COME HOME?:

SOMEBODY STOLE MY GAL:

AT THE JAZZ BAND BALL:

A HUNDRED YEARS FROM TODAY:

LOUISIANA:

You can find connections to Bix, Basie and Lester, to Jack Teagarden. But The EarRegulars are always having a fine time in fresh fields and pastures new. These players create such casual playful brilliance that they are, singly and collectively, a joy to experience. In case Dion Tucker is new to you, let this be a proper introduction to another young melodic hero. And, yes, that is a jazzophone Scott is playing. Matt Munisteri and Neal Miner lift and anchor us as always, with splendid grace. Marvel, children! Tell your friends.